A graphical display system for animating mapped cardiac potentials

A graphical display system for animating mapped cardiac potentials is described. The system displays recorded voltages from 121 epicardial electrodes simultaneously on a computer monitor using color to indicate the magnitude of the voltage. Numerous options accessible through the mouse-driven user interface provide the user with a high degree of interaction with the data. The user can observe the changes in the recorded voltages over time by defining a portion of the data over which to animate the voltages. Animation speeds of up to 2 1/4 frames per second can be achieved, depending on the workstation used. Use of the graphical display system provides a new tool for studying the electrical conduction properties of the heart. Through its use, a more complete understanding (and potentially a more effective treatment) of arrhythmias might be achieved